In order to get a firsthand report on the development projects undertaken in the KBK region, Development Commissioner Injeti Srinivas came on a visit here along with a team of other officers on Sunday.
This was the first visit of a Development Commissioner (DC) to the backward area after a long period though the DC is the second-in-command of the State administration.
Recently, Chief Administrator KBK and Revenue Secretary Taradatt had visited Koraput and Malkangiri and reported the problems in the area to the Chief Secretary and Development Commissioner. So, the DC made it a point to visit the KBK region as early as possible.
During the visit Srinivas was accompanied by Officer on Special Duty RV Singh and Special Secretary of the Department of Planning & Coordination G Bhaskar Reddy. Koraput district Collector Sachin Ramchand Jadav briefed the team about the various developmental projects being undertaken by the district administration.
Srinivas, who is also a member of the Unified Command of the State, met representatives of the Koraput District Artists’ Federation, through which awareness campaign against Maoists can be scaled up in this Maoist-hit zone. These artists with their local tribal languages would be able to generate awareness on various developmental projects being taken up by the administration, pointed out a senior officer.
The team watched the awareness programmes staged by the Asha workers and other artists including those of tribal folks on various welfare schemes of the Government.
Srinivas, who held elaborate discussion with the district Collector and other officials, asked the latter to have zero tolerance towards the officers who show laxity in carrying out development works.
Srinivas also visited the niger oil extraction centre and fly ash-brick making unit managed by the Mission Shakti of Koraput. This are a self-sustaining initiatives by the people. The Department of ST & SC Development has also taken up coffee plantation in a big way in Koraput.
Secretary of ST & SC Development Santosh Sarangi and Director of ST & SC AB Ota were present while various developmental projects taken up by various ITDAs were reviewed.